Adjustable cover plate for electric wall boxes



Jan. 1, 1929. Y 1,697,348

R. H. CUNNINGHAM ADJUSTABLE CovER PLATE E011 ELECTRIC WALL BOXES Filed oct. .28, 1927 Snor naw Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

starrt naar Rox HERBERT CUNNINGHAM, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN, AssreNoR To THE REYNOLDS SPRINGYCOMPANY, or -JAcKsoiL MrcHrGAN. j j v ADJUSTABLE GOVER'PLATE FOR ELECTRIC VJALL BOXES.

Application filed October 28, 1927. Serial No. 229,494.

The invention relates to an adjustable cover plate for electric wall boxes, outlet boxes and the like.

The object of theA present invention is to improve the construction of cover plates for electric wall boxes, outlet boxes and the like and toprovide a simple, practicaland eflicient coverl plate adapted to be readily adjusted and arranged in perfect alignment with the lines of theY building and the room in which it is located. Y i

A further object of the invention is to pro- ,vide an adjustable cover plate of thischaracter which will be ornamental in its appearance and have its adjusting means interiorly arrangedand readily accessible' for removal or adjustment.

It is also an object of the invention to equip the adjustablecover plate with removable ornamental closures for the openings which afford access to the interior adjusting means.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the Construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion land minor details oi" construction, within the Lscope of the claims may be resorted to with- Vout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

ln the drawings Figure l is an elevation of an adjustable cover .plate constructed in accordance with this invention. l K Fig 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-*3 of Fig. 2.

i Fig. 4 is a similar view taken substantially on the line 4'--4^of Fig. 2. v y

l Fig.V 5 is a detail perspective viewof the removable closure button. In the accompanying drawing in which is central circular bearingportion and opposite' lateral extensions 3 disposed transversely of the lcever plate. The openingl2 is adaptedr able insulating material.

illustrated the preferredembodiment of the to afford access to a metal clamping plate 4 for the manipulation of a screw 5 for adjustably clamping the cover plate to a wall box, outlet box or the like used in electricwiring. The central bearing portion of thefopening 2 is circular to receive a cylindricalshank' of a closure button 7 having an enlarged ornamental head which is of sufficient size to cover the opening 2'and conceal from View the'interior adjusting means for securing the cover plate-to the electric wall box.

cal shank is 'adapted to rotate in the bearing, portion ofthe opening 2 to carry a resilient strip or spring' 8 into and out of alignment with the lateral4 extensions 3 of the opening 2. The vspring 8 is securedto the closure button by means of a suitable headed fastening device 9 embedded-in the closure button which is constructed of molded bakelite or other suit- The said `fastening device 9 pierces the spring and .is provided at its inner and outer ends with heads vand the said spring projects beyond the shank The cylindrito form resilient lockingiarms 10 adapted 'to be arrangedV in alignment with the lateral extensions 3 of the opening 2 to perinitthe button to be inserted in position and to be turned at right angles to suchy position by a qua-rter turn of the button to cause the locking arms lO'to snap into grooves l1 formed in the inner lface vof the closure platev at opposite sides of the bearing portion of thefopening 2. The plat-el is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings as being arranged vertically and the grooves are located above` and below the opening 2 while the slotted metallic plate is arranged in a horizontal position. The' side walls 1:2 of the groove l1 are slightly inclined'to enable tlielocking arms to be readily turned out kof engagement with thel groove and when the locking arms are inengagement with the" groove `the button is securely held against'acopening 2 of the cover plate.

lend portions tot the slotted plateand supporting the said slottedplate in spaced 'relationwith the inner face of the cover plate and providing an intervening recess 14 for the headv of the clamping'scrcw 5. The slotted plate is securedto the enlargements by means. of 'screws l5 which preferably' engage threadcid'ental rotation and-irmly'r'etained in' the v ved bushings i6 embedded in the enlargements, but Vtheslotted plate maybe secured to the closure plate at the inner face thereof in any other desired manner and may be an insert when the closure plate is molded. Vhen the slotted plate is applied as an insert its end portions will be embedded in the enlarge@ ments. The clamping screw may be an ordinary flat'headed screw, but the side walls 17 of the slot 18 of the metal plate may be bev eled to receive a screw having a tapering head. The clamping screws of the cover plate are adapted to engage the ordinary lugs of an electric Wall box and the plate is applied to the electric wall ybox before the closure buttonsare'plac'ed in position. After the screws have been engaged with the lugs of the electric wall box and before the j down ,so as to firmly bind t e metal plates against ythe lugs, the closure plate can be moved or adjusted by means of the clamping screws and Vslots to arrange the cover plate in lperfect alignment with the lines of the buildingand room in which it is located. lVhen the proper adjustment of the cover plate has been Inadethe screws can be further tightened so that .theheads of the screws will clamp the metal platejfirmly and hold the cover plate stationary. The ornamental vclosure buttons are then ,placed in the openings of the cover plate and are rrotated ,one quarter revolution to engage the resilient locking, arms with the grooves of the cover plate. When it is desired to remove the cover plate the closure buttons-may ,be readily turned one quarter revolution to :bring the locking arms opposite the lateralextensions of the opening 2 topermit the removal'of the closure buttons.

This will afford access yto the clamping screws and the blade of a screw driver may be lreadily passed through the `openings 2 for manipu latingthe vclamping screws.

What is claimed is:

1. An .adjustable cover plate of the class described, constructed .0f molded insulating material and provided with an opening, a

y metal plate carried bythe closure plate and supported in spaced relation with the inner AVface of the same and provided with avslot adapted to receive a clamping screw Vfor ,se-

curing the cover `plate `to an electric wall box `or the like, thel opening lin the cover plate permitting access to the head of the screw, and a removable closure having interior attaching means and covering the opening of the cover plate to conceal the clamping screw .and the slottedplate. f f Y 42. An adjust-able cover plateotthe class described, constructed of molded insulating material andprovided with an opening, a `vmetal plateA carried by the cover plate .and

supported in spaced relation with the inner face of the same and provided with a vslot adapted to receive a screw for securing the j cover plate to a wall box or the like, and a l closure button'covering the said opening in the cover plate and provided with a shank are tightenedV ksupportedin spaced relation with the inner face of the same and provided with a 'slot adapted to receive a screw for securing the cover plate to a .wall boxer the like, anda closure button covering the said opening in the cover plate and provided with a shank 4extending' through the opening and provided at its. end with a locking arm arranged to be engaged with and disengaged from the inner face ofthe plate for removably securing the button in position.

4. An adjustable cover plate of the class described, constructed of molded insulating material and provided with an opening having a bearing portion. andan extension, a metal plate carried bythe cover plate and supported in spaced relation with the inner iace of the same and vprovided with a slot arranged opposite the opening of the cover plate, and a closure buttonV covering the opening of the cover plate and .provided with a rounded shank operating in the bearing portion of the opening and having ,a projecting locking arm movable through the extension of the openingand adapted to be turned Aout of alignment with the'same for engaging the cover plate at the innerrface of the same to hold the button in position.

5. An adjustable cover plate of theY class described, constructed of molded insulating material and provided with an opening having a bearing portion andan extension,` a .metal plate carriedkby the cover plate and supported in spaced relation with the inner Y face of the same and provided with a slot arranged opposite the opening of the cover plate, and a closure lbutton covering the opening of the cover plate and provided with a rounded shank operating in the bearing portion of the opening and having a resilient locking arm :movable through the extension of the said opening and adapted to be turned out'of alignment withthe same, said cover plate being provided with a groove arranged to receive the locking arm for holding the c button against accidental rotation.

6. An adjustable cover yplate constructed of molded insulating material. and provided with an opening having a bearing portion and opposite extensions, said cover plate being vprovided. atV its inner face with `grooves located atoppositesides of the bearing portion of the opening, a metalplate carried by the `cover plate and supported in spaced relation withthe innerY farce of the same and provided with a slot located opposite the opening of the coverplateand adapted to receiveV Y a clamping screw for securing the cover plate to a Wall box or the like, and an ornamental closure button covering the opening in the cover plate and provided with a cylindrical shank operating in the bearing portion of the opening, said button being provided at the inner end of the shank With a spring extending beyond the shank and forming looking arms movable through the `extensions of the opening and engageable with the said grooves through a partial rotary movement of the button.

7. An adjustable cover plate of the class described, constructed of molded insulating material and. provided With an opening and having fastening means located at the inner lface of the cover plate for securing the latter in position, said fastening means being operable through the said opening, and a removable closure covering the said opening of the nov HERBERT CUNNINGHAM. 

